Bottle-stoppering machine.



No. 68!,949. Pdtented Sept. 3, MN.

.1. & J. A. BUTKUS. I

BOTTLE STOPPEBING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 9. 1901.)

(No Model.) 7 8 Sheets-Sheet I.

name rrrsns ca. wow-mac vnsnmumn, u. c.

J. G. J. A. BUTKUS.

BOTTLE STOPPEBING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 3, l90l.

(Application filed Mar. 9. 1901.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W252 sses- "cams F'EYERS co. PHOTO-HD4014 ma'rou. o. c

No. 68l,949. Patented Sept. 3, 19m.

J. a J. A. BUTKUS.

BOTTLE STOPPEBING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 9. 1901.)

6 Shoots-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

14 225298 ses No. 68|,949. Patented-Sept. 3, l90l.

.|.& J. A. BUTKU S. BUTTLE STUPPEBING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 9. 1801.)

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 4.

m: uomvi' vs-rms co. ammurm A'AS uuuuuuu o c Nu. 68i,949. Patented Sept.3, l90l. J. & J. A. BUTKUS.

BOTTLE STOPPEBING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 9. 1901.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

gall iizesses- Jnvenlfrs u mrngy- TNE ncnms PEYERS m.,auora-u1no..WASNINGTDN. n, c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH BUTKUS AND JOHN AJBUTKUS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BOTTLE-STO'PPERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 681 ,949, datedSeptember 3, 1901.

Application filed March 9, 1901. Serial No. 50,436. (No model.)

To all whom it WMZZ/ concern.-

Be it known that we, JOSEPH BUTKUS' and JOHN A. BUTKUS, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-StopperingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for inserting and fastening stoppersin bottles; and one of its objects is to provide a machine of thischaracter which will fasten a cup-shaped ductile metallic stopper in abottle-neck by first forcing the stopper to its seat and then expandingthe side walls thereof into an interior annular groove or under anannular shoulder formed in the bottle-neck just below the upper edge ofthe same. In placing the stopper in position the sealing collar of corkor other material is compressed, and then the side walls of the metalstopper are expanded.

A further object of the invention is to provide feed devices incombination with the stoppering-machine which will positively feed thestoppers one at a time into position to be acted upon by the stopperingmechanism.

Reference is'to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a front elevation of our improved bottle-stoppering machine. Fig. 2is vertical transverse section thereof, taken at right angles to Fig. 1.vertical section of the upper'part of the machine looking toward theright of the ma chine as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3' is a detailperspective view of the forward end of the rocking lever that operatesthe wedge-pin to spread apart the stopper-expanding fingers. Fig. 3 is adetail sectional view illustrating the upper end of said wedge-pin andyielding support. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the stoppering-machine.Fig. 5 is a detail side view of the wheel for raising I thebottle-holder. Fig. 6 is a peripheral view thereof, showing thewrist-pin which holds the rod that connects said wheel with thebottle-holder. Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of said wrist-pin withparts shown in section. Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of thevertically-reciprocable stopper-holder which receives a stopper from thedeliverychute of the feed devices. Fig. 9 is a similar view thereof withits outer Fig. 3 is an enlarged the delivery-chute.

cylindrical casing shown in section. Fig. 10 is abottom plan view of thesame. Fig. 11 is a detail view illustrating the stopper-holder insection and with its casing removed and also showing theexpanding-fingers and the means for automatically releasing the stopperfrom said holder. Fig. 12 is a detail s'ide elevation of the expander.Fig. 13 is a detail view of the adjacent ends of the stopperholdercasing and delivery-chute. Fig. 14: is an elevation of the stopper-feeddevices as they would be seen looking from the left toward the right ofthe machine, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 15 is an elevation of the same asviewed from the front of the machine. Fig. 16 is a detail sectional Viewof a portion of said stopper-feed devices. Fig. 17 is a similar viewthereof with only one of the parts in section. Fig. 18 is a detail viewof a portion of the stopper-delivery chute, illustrating the shuntdevice for discharging imperfect stoppers from said chute before theypass to the expanding devices. Fig. 19 is an elevation of thestopper-feed devices with a part thereof in section and illustrating theside opposite to that shown in Fig. 14. Fig. 20 is an elevation of thesame, illustrating the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 21is a detail view of a portion of the delivery-chute, illustrating oneside of the shunt device for imperfect stoppers. Fig. 22 is a verticalsection of the same. Fig. 23, Sheet 1, illustrates two detail views ofthe ejector-finger for ejecting the stoppers out of the discharge end ofFig. 24, Sheet 1, is a sectional view of the upper portion of abottleneck with a stopper expanded therein and also a view of a stopperbefore it has been expanded.

We will first describe the general arrangement and operation of ourbottle-stoppering machine and then specifically set forth the details ofconstruction, pointing out the novel features and combinations of partsin the appended claims.

The machine is provided with a hollow vertical standard A, mounted upona suitable base a. About midway of its height said standard is providedwith a split yoke-clamp a, in which the tubular stem 1) of abottleholder B is held so as to be vertically adjustable, and at itsupper end said standard is provided with a forwardly-projecting ledge 0from which depend the stoppering devices 0, the latter being at asuitable distance above and in vertical alinement with the saidbottle-holder B.

The reference-letter D designates the feed device for positively feedingthe stoppers one at a time and at the proper interval to the stopperingdevices 0 and which is suitably clamped on one side of theforwardly-projecting ledge a The referenceletterE designates a coutinuously-rotating pulley loosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 2. Saidshaft is mounted in bearings e on the top of the standard A and is madefast with the said pulley E through the medium of aspring-actuatedclutch 6 A releasing device F is normally in engagementwith said clutch and is operated from a foot-treadle f, fulcrumed at thebase of the standard A. hen the said treadle is depressed; the clutch eengages the pulley, which causes the shaft 6 to rotate. This rotation,through suitable means hereinafter described, causes the bottle-holder Bto rise, so as to ca use the mouth of a bottle placed thereon to bebrought into position for action by the stoppering devices. A furtherrotation of said shaft depresses by means of a cam g the rear arm g of arocking lever G, whose forward arm 9 raises a wedge-pin c, which has awedge action on the inside of expanding-fingers c, and said fingersexpand the ductile metallic side walls of the stopper into an annulargroove or underneath an annular shoulder in the neck of the bottle onthe holder )3. A still further rotation of the shaft e permits theexpanding-fingers to contract from the stopper and lowers thebottle-holder B and bottle away from the stoppering devices in positionfor the holder to receive another bottle.

The bottZe-h0Zdcr.Secured at a predetermined vertical adjustment withinthe split clamp a on the front of the standard A, as shown in Figs. 1and 2, is a vertical tubular stem b, open at both ends and provided atits top with a rigid cross-arm b, as shown in Fig. 1. A sleeve b isfitted to slide within said tube and is provided near its lower end witha rigidly-secured cross-arm b in alinement with the said upper cross-armZ). Vertical guide-rods b slide through apertures in the ends of thecross-arms b and b the lower ends of said rods being threaded andprovided with nuts 11 which act as stops to limit the upward movement ofsaid rods, and aspring b is coiled around each guide-rod between thesaid upper immovable cross-arm and the lower movable cross-arm, againstwhich they bear to press the said guide-rods and sleeve b downwardly.The upper ends of said guiderods are rigidly connected together at theirupper ends by a cross-head 19 which is rigidly secured to the sleeve bwhereby to pull said sleeve downwardly as the rods move downwardly. Thesaid sleeve is provided at its top with a threaded aperture,and thebottleholding disk 79 has a threaded rod 19'', which screws in saidaperture, whereby the said disk may be raised and lowered with respectto the sleeve 17 The upper face of the disk 11 is preferably cushionedwith a rubber pad b and has a V-shaped guide b in order to properlycenter the bottle.

The actuating mechanism J for raising the bottle-holder B so as to bringthe mouth of the bottle H in proper relation to the stoppering devicesis provided with a bushing j, fitting within the lower end of theverticallyslidable sleeve 19 and having an exterior flange j engagingthe lower end of said sleeve. A vertically-reciprocating rod is withinthe standard A and has at its lower end a lateral arm j which projectsthrough a Vertical slot 0, in the front of the standard, and the outerend of said arm is connected with the bushingj by a pivotj The upper endof said reciprocating rodj has a longitudinally-extending slot 3' whichis adj ustably attached to a wrist-pin 7a, which in turn is adjustablymounted in a diametrical undercut groove formed on a wheel K, fixedlymounted on the horizontal shaft 6. When said shaft turns, it is evidentthat the sleeve (9 of the bottle-holder will be slid up and down in thetube b.

Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 show the means for adj ustably connecting therod 3' to the wheel K and for regulating the stroke of said rod. It willbe seen that the wrist-pin 7c is provided intermediate of its ends witha fixedlysecured or integral collar 7.0 On one side of said collar saidwristpin is threaded, as shown at it and this threaded end is insertedthrough the slot j in the rod j and is secured at any desired pointtherein by a nut and washer k Now when it is desired to make any changein the elevation of the bottle-holder B as a whole the tube 19 isadjusted vertically in the splitclamp a, and the connecting-rod 9' isthen relatively adjusted on the wrist-pin 7r. On the other side of saidcollar k the wrist-pin It has an exteriorly-threaded sleeve 70 on whicha nut 166 has previously been screwed. Said sleeve has an annular headk, which has position in the undercut groove 70, and a nut k is screwedon the end of the wrist-pin 7t and against the annular head to hold saidsleeve thereon, as plainly indicated in Figs. 6 and '7. The stroke ofthe reciprocating rod 7' is regulated by the distance the wrist-pin k isfrom the axis of the wheel K, and when the wristpin has been adjustedthe nut 7c is screwed tightly against the outer face of said wheel tohold it. In order to permit the bottleholder B to yield in case a bottleplaced thereon is so long that its mouth would be crushed against thestoppering devices if the bottle-holder did not yield, we have in thisinstance made the vertically-reciprocating connectingrod 3' in twosections, as shown in Fig. 2, connected together at their adjacent endsby a helical spring j, and a roller 7' guides the lower section of saidrod up and down.

The operation of the bottle-holder B is as follows: After the operatorhas placed a bottle H in the V-shaped guide I) on the disk 5 his footdepresses the treadle f, and thereupon the clutch 6 will couple theshaft 6 with the continuously-rotating pulley E. The rotation of suchshaft turns the wheel K, which acts on the reciprocating rodj and causesit to raise the movable parts of the bottle-holder so that the mouth ofthe bottle will be in proper position to receive a stopper. All slightvertical adjustment of the bottle-holding disk b is effected by rotatingsaid disk; but if any greater adjustment is required we prefer to movethe tube 1) up or down in the split clamp ct.

The clutch-releasing mechanism F, hereinbei'ore referred to, comprisesspecifically a rod f which slides vertically in the bracketarm whichsupports one of the shaft-bearings e, and also through ahorizontally-projecting bracket a thereabove and whose upper endnormally enters a cam-groove e in the clutch member 6 anda horizontalarmy, which is rigidly secured to the rod f near the lower end of thelatter, is also secured to the upper end of the vertical bar f, locatedwithin the standard A. The lower end of said vertical bar f is pivotedto the treadlef, which latter is fulcrumed between ears (t on thestandard A and projects out through the slot a in the latter. A spring fis coiled around the rod f between the two bracketarms just mentioned,so that when the treadle is released from a depressed position thespring will raise the rod and cause it to enter the cam-groove e in theclutch member and move the latter out of engagement with the pulley Eagainst the tension of the clutchspring e The stopper-expandingderioes.The stopper-expanding devices 0 are located directly above thebottle-holder B and are provided with a tube 0 of spring metal, securedvertically in and depending from the ledge a of the standard A, as shownbest in Fig. 3. The said tube is provided with a plurality of verticalslits 0 extending to the lower end thereof, whereby to form a series ofspring expanding-fingers c, and each finger at its lower end is providedwith upper and lower shoulders, which together form two annularshoulders, designated 0 and 0 respectively, which are arranged to forcethe stopper to its seat in the bottle-mouth and compress and wedge thesealing-collar and also expand the duotile metal of the stopper-bodyinto the annular groove in the bottle-mouth. A pin a, with awedge-shaped head 0 is mounted to reciprocate vertically within saidexpander-tube a between the lower ends of the expandingfingers. Whenthis pin is raised, its head acts as a wedge against the lower ends ofthe expanding-fingers c and causes the latter to provided with anaperture g at its outer end,

through which the upper end of the wedgepin 0 extends. aperture isformed a shoulder g. A bushing g (see Fig. 3 is loosely fitted on theupper end of the wedge-pin above the arm of the lever and is providedwith a screw-threaded upper end. A collar g is movably fitted on.

the bushing and is adapted to engage with shoulders g on the lower endof said bushing and is provided with recessed lower edges g which aresupported to rock on the shoulders g and a heavy coil-spring g surroundssaid bushing above said collar, the upper end of said spring bearingagainst nuts g screwed on the upper ends of the bushing 9 Awedgepin-adjusting nut g is screwed on the upper end of the wedge-pin,as shown, and abuts against the upper end of the said bushing g By thearrangement described as the lever Gr rocks to raise the wedge-pin thenut or collar g will rock on its two supporting-shoulders g which willinsure the true vertical movement of the wedge-pin, and in case of anydeviation in the regular diametrical size of the mouth of the bottle tobe sealed, after a certain amount of pressure has been exerted on thewedge-pin by the bottle on the holder, the heavy coil-spring g willyield sufliciently to check the pressure of the wedge-shaped head on theexpanding-fingers, thereby avoiding their expansion to too great anextent and preventing the fingers from breaking the bottle by excessivepressure on the stopper. The tension of the said spring may be regulatedby the nuts g and the nut g on the upper end of the wedge-pin isprovided in order to adjust said pin vertically with respect to theexpanding-fingers. The other arm g of the rocking lever Gextendsrearwardly into contact with the hub of the wheel K, as shown in Fig. 3,and is adapted to be depressed by a hard-metal cam g on the adjacentface of said wheel, so that as the latter turns the said cam will rockthe lever and raise the wedge-pin to expand the fingers. A hard-metalbearingplate g is detachably secured in any suitable manner tothe rearlever-arm g, whereby to receive the pressure of the cam, and said cam isadj ustably secured to the wheel K by slots and screws, as shown,whereby it may be adjusted so that it will be sure to act, at the propertime.

Stopper holding and releasing de vices.ln order to hold a stopper inposition to go into the mouth of a bottle upon the rise of thebottle-holder B and to drop said stopper at the proper time into saidbottle-mouth, we have provided the following parts, particular referencebeing bad to Figs. 3, 8, 9, 10, and 11:

At each of two sides of said Rigidly secured around the expander-tube 0with its upper edge abutting against the under surface of the ledge a ofthe standard A, is a stopper-releasing device in the form of a tube Z,whose lower edge forms an annular shoulder Z, located a short distanceabove the lower end of the expanding-fingers, as shown in Fig. 11.Sliding vertically on said tube Z is a stopper-holding tube Z slitted atits lower end, whereby to form a series of spring-fingers Z which forman interior annular shoulder 1 normally below the shoulders Z of thereleasing-tube Z and whose lower ends are provided with aninwardly-projecting annular flange Z for the upper rim of the stoppertorest on. An opening 1, corresponding in contour to the cross-sectionalshape of the stopper, is formed at one side and at the lower end of thespring-stopper holder, as shown in Fig. 9, through which the stopperpasses from the feeding devices. Secured around the said stopper-holderZ so as to move vertically with it, is a cylindrical oasing L, whoselower end is provided with an inwardly-projecting beveled flange Z belowthe lower ends of the stopper-holding fingers and adapted to guide themouth of the bottle into position to receive the stopper. Two ears Zproject out from opposite sides of said casing, vertical rods Z aresecured in said ears and are also adjustably secured in the ledge awhereby to suspend the verticallymovalole casing L and stopper-holdingtube l and springs Z are coiled around said rods, whereby to normallyhold said tube and casing in the down position. (Shown in Fig. 8.) Thecasing L is further provided with a stopper-shaped opening Z to admitthe stoppers from the feed devices, and is also provided above saidopening with a divided lug Z for a purpose presently described inconnection with the feed devices.

In describing the operation of this part of the machine we will assumethat a stopper has been passed into the stopper-holder Z and rests withits rim on the inwardly-projecting annular flange Z of the same. Thebottleholder now raises the bottle and the mouth of the latter abutsagainst the inward flange Z of the casing L and raises said casing andthe stopper-holder, which movement causes the annular shoulder l of thespring stopperholder to ride upon the shoulder Z of the re leasing-tubel just at the time the expandingfingers are ready to enter the stopper,there by spreading the spring-fingers Z apart and allowing the stopperto drop into the mouth of the bottle, which is just underneath andalmost in contact with the stopper at that time. The bottle continues torise until the stopper-expanding fingers 0 come into contact with thestopper, which fingers by resisting the upward movement force thestopper to its seat in the bottle-mouth, which oompresses and wedges thesealing-collar, and thereupon the wedge-pin o spreads the expandingfingers apart, which expands the ductile metallic sides of the stopperinto the groove in the mouth of the bottle. The bottle is then lowered,whereupon the springs Z press the casing L and stopper-holder Zdownwardly, so that their side openings come into registry with thedischarge end of the stopper-delivery chute in position to receiveanother stopper.

The stopper-feeding devices-Referring to Fig. 1 and to Figs. 14 to 22,inclusive, D designates the device for holding a supply of stoppers andpositively feeding one stopper at a time through the side openings ofthe casing L and stopper-holder Z A bracket d is clamped to theright-hand side of the standard-ledge 0. and to its upper end is securedan approximately circular flat plate 01'. A horizontal rotary shaft d ismounted in suitable bearing-brackets d 61* and extends through saidplate and derives its motion from the pulley E by means of a groovedpulley d connected by a belt d with the movable member of the clutchthatis, the hub of said pulley E. The said shaft 01 at one end carries astopper-receptacle D in the form of a truncated cone having a removableend cap d which is taken off to insert a quantity of stoppers into thereceptacle, and the latter is provided at its circular rim withoutlet-openings d, which are stopper-shaped-that is, are of a contourcorresponding to the cross-section of the stoppers used. Said openingsare so positioned that a stopper can only pass therethrough into thedelivery-chute d when the stopper is right side up, and the said chutecurves toward the expanding devices and terminates at the casing L. Therotary receptacle D is provided on its interior, as shown in Fig. 19,with diagonal or spiral ribs m, against which the stoppers strike as thereceptacle turns, thus causing them to tumble. The chute d is providedat its upper end with a ring (1 which entirely encircles and is spacedfrom the stopper-receptacle D around the openings. The space or channel61 in said ring for about one-third its length, as shown by dotted linein Fig. 19, is as wide as a stopper and the remaining two thirds of saidchannel are less than the width of a stopper. Now when the stoppers passout of the receptacle into the wide part of said channel should thechute d and said wide part of the channel become filled no more stopperscan come completely out of the receptacle; but when a stopper comes,say, half-way out of one of the openings (1 it can come no farther, butwill be kept rolling around in the narrow part of the channel and overthe stoppers in the filled wide part of the same until room is made forit by the ejecting of a stopper out of the delivery end of the chute dat which time the said stopper carried around half-way out of theopening 01 can come'entirely out of said opening. At the circular rim ofthe receptacle is also provided a channel al (see Fig. 15,) into whichthe stoppers fall to go out of the stopper-openings d, so that thestoppers will fall and roll edgewise, and should a stopper come half-wayout of an opening, as just described, and in a wrong-side-u p positionit will be thrown back into the receptacle by means of a number of pinsor lugs 01 which extend across said channel cl. One of these pins isshown in Fig. 15. A hanger 0 is secured at one side of the upper end ofthe delivery-chute 61 A rod 0 reciprocates vertically through saidhanger and is prevented from rotating by means of a pin 0 working in aslot 0 in the hanger, and a roller 0 is journaled in the upper end of.said rod and rides upon a cam n on a horizontal shaft N, which latter isgeared with the main horizontal shaft e by means of sprocket-gearing n.A spring 0 is coiled around the rod 0 and bears against the hanger 0 andpin 0 whereby to press said rod upwardly, so that its roller-'0 willalways be in contact with the cam n. The lower end of the rod 0 istubular, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. Inside of its tubular portion isrigidly secured a sleeve 0 and inside of said sleeve is slidably fitteda shank P, which is pressed downwardly by a spring 0 inside said sleeve,whereby said shank is permitted to yield in an upward direction. To thelower end of this shank is pivotally secured one leg 19 of astopperpusher, as shown best in Figs. 15 and 18, and the other leg 13 ispivotally secured to the first-named leg, as shown at 19 The said legsare both pressed upon by a spring 19 so that their free ends projectinto the longitudinal slot (Z in the adjacent side of the delivery-chuteCF, and a roller 19 is journaled on each leg and bears on the chute toprevent the free ends of the legs from entering too far into the chute.A spring-pressed abutment Q is secured-to the chute near saidstopper-pusher and is provided with a finger q, formed with a beveledforward end which normally extends across the slot (1 and said finger isadjusted to extend more or less across said slot by a nut g, screwed onits rear end and bearing against the rear end of its casing g whichlatter is secured to a bracket g vertically adjustable on the chute. Ontheir downward movement the legs of the stopper-pusher will engage twocontiguous stoppers in the chute d and push them over or out of a shuntdevice R, presently described, and the said legs engage with the beveledend of the abutment-finger and press said finger back. On the backwardor upward movement said legs willride up over said abutment-finger,whichlatter disengages said legs from the stoppers. The stoppers that passover the shunt device pass down to the discharge end of the chute (1where they are caught and held by leaf-springs cZ ,whose free ends passthrough two opposite sides of the chute, and the stoppers are positivelyforced one at a time between said springs and into the stopper holder bymeans of ejecting mechanism, which we will now describe.

The reference-letter s designates a short tube (see particularly Figs.l5, l6, and 17) which is movably fitted around the sleeve 0 and insidethe tubular lower end of the rod 0 and is held from detachment from saidsleeve by a nut s, screwed on the lower end of the latter, and sdesignates a coil-spring which bears downwardly on said short tube .9and whose tension may be adjusted by the nut .9. By this arrangement thesaid tube may yield when necessary. Tightly clamped around the tube 8 isa collar 8 to which is pivotally secured the depending arm 8 foractuating the ejector, and which collar is provided with a pin 8, whichslides in a slotted plate s A face-plate S is rigidly secured to thechute d at about the middle thereof. The rear section 25 of anejector-arm T is pivotally connected at one end to said face-plate by astud t. is pivoted to the other end of the rear section, and anejector-finger t is pivotally connected to the free end of said forwardsection 15 and is offset, as shown at if, the free end of 'said fingerentering the slot (1 of the deliverychute and provided with upper andlower teeth i 2?, adapted to take secure hold of the soft metal of thestopper-bodyand eject the stopper in proper upright position. Acompression-spring s has one end secured to the actuating-arm s and hasits other end secured to the chute d whereby it has a tendency to drawsaid arm toward the chute. Another spring 25 is secured at one end tothe stud t, as shown in Fig. 20, and is coiled around the pivot t, whichconnects the two sections of the ejector-arm with its other end securedto a pin 15 on said forward section, whereby to draw the rear sectionthereof rearwardly and the forward section thereof toward the chute, andanother smaller spring i is secured to a small pin i on the pivotedejector-finger t and is also secured to the free end of the forwardejector-arm section 6 whereby to yieldingly'hold said finger always inthe slot 01 in contact with the stoppers. The said pin 15 engages theupper edge of its forward section t and prevents the ejectingfinger fromgoing too far into the slot, and a roller 13 is journaled on the freeend of the said forward section t and rolls on the chute to maintain theproper relation of said armsection to said chute. As shown in Fig. 15,

the ejector-actuating arm 5 is provided with a shoulder s and a curvedend 3 beyond said shoulder, and the rear section tof the ejectorarm T isprovided with a lug 6, adapted to be engaged by said shoulder 8, wherebyto swing said arm T when the actuating-arm s is moved down by thedownward movement of the rod 0. As said actuating-arm moves down itscurved end 8 rides upon a roller trip-pin s adjustably heldin a slot 8in the face-plate S, which trip-pin finally throws the actuating-arm outof engagement with the lug i when the stopper has been carried farenough into the stopper-holder and allows The forward section I? of saidarmthe spring i to jerk back the ejector-arm. By adjusting said trip-pinin its slot it is evident that the actuating-arm may be tripped more orless quickly and the swing movement of the ejector-arm T shortened orlengthened.

The specific form of ductile metallic stoppers which we prefer to use inconnection with our machine, although manifestly other forms may beused, is shown in Figs. 18 and 24. The metal body it of the stopper issubstantially cup-shaped and provided with an outwardly-extending toprim h, and around the cup-shaped body is a cork sealing-collar N, whichis clenched under said top rim and which seals the joint between thestopper and bottle-mouth. These cork sealing-collars sometimes becomedetached from the cup part, and in order to prevent an imperfect stopperthat is without its sealing-collar from passing to the stopperingdevices we have provided a delivery-chute which extends straight downfrom the stopper-receptacle for about half of its length and then curvestoward the stopper-expanding devices, and at the point where the curvecommences we have located shunt devices R for discharging collarlessstoppers at that point. These shunt devices comprise, as shown in Figs.18, 21, and 22, two pass-rails r, secured on the interior of the chute,one at each side of the slot (1 of the chute at a point within the lineof travel of the two legs p p of the stopperpusher,andadownwardly-dischargingshuntopening 1", commencing a little above thesaid pass-rails, and on each side of which opening is adownwardly-extending discharge-rail T The width of the shunt-opening 4"is a little less than the diameter of a stopper with a sealing-collar onand somewhat greater than the diameter of a stopper without a collar.Therefore it is evident that as the stoppers are pushed down the chuteby the pusher-legs p 19 those stoppers that are without sealing-collarswill be pushed through the shunt-opening 1", while the stoppers withcollars will ride with their rims h on the passrails 4", which willdeflect them from the shuntopening and pass them safely over the same.In order to prevent the rim of an imperfect stopper from catching on therim of a good stopper just in advance of it and be carried by said goodstopper onto the pass-rails, we have provided the two-leggedstopper-pusher hereinbefore described, which always holds the twoadjacent stoppers slightly separated from each other when it pushes thempast or into the shunt devices.

The operation of the stopper-feeding devices is as follows: Thestopper-receptacle is kept in continuous rotation and feeds stoppersinto the chute d When the main shaft 6 rotates, the shaft N alsorotates, and its cam nwilldepress the rod 0, which will move thetwo-legged stopper-pusher and the ejectoractuating arm 3 downward, asbefore described, and said arm will swing the ejectorarm T downwardly,causing it to eject a stopper out of the discharge end of the chute andI carry it into the casing L and stopper-holder Z The trip-pin s willthrow the actuatingarm out of engagement with the ejector-arm T as soonas the latter has thus ejected a stopper, and the ejector will then bebrought back with a quick jerk by its springs into engagement withanother stopper. The ejector-arm jerks back before the cam 02 turns farenough to allow the pusher-legs to move backwardly, so that the stoppersare held by said pusher-legs until the ejector gets hold of anotherstopper. Then for the next bottle to be sealed the cam allows bothactuating-arm s and pusher-legs to move backward, so that the said arm 3will again engage with the ejector-arm and the pusherlegs will engagemore stoppers. If the attendant of the machine should by oversight letastopper remain in the holder and then allow the stopper-ejector andstopper-pusher to operate again, no harm will be done to the machine orto the stoppers, because both the ejector and the pusher will yield onaccount of the arrangement of spring-pressed tubes which carry saidparts, as hereinbefore described and shown particularly in Figs. 16 and17, and in case such contingency happens a stopper will be carried bythe ejectorfinger into, but not through, the side opening of the casingL, where it will remain until removed by hand. To meet this emergency,we have formed the upper wall of the discharge end of thestopper-delivery chute d witha semicircular recess Z as shown in' Fig.14, in which normally fits the divided lug Z of the casing L,hereinbefore described in connection with the stopper-holding devices,said lug normally closing said recess as far as possible, so as to keepout dirt and dust. (See Fig. 13.) When a stopper has been caughtin theside opening of the casing L, the attendant can readily raise the saidcasing by hand, so as to clear the chute and then remove the saidstopper.

In order that the attendant may ascertain at once if no stopper has beenejected out of the delivery-chute, we have provided an alarm mechanismU, arranged to be actuated by one of the springs 01 at the discharge endof said chute, as best seen in Figs. 14, 15, 19, and 20. Mounted on asmall bracket u, at one side of the lower end of the chute, is a rod it,which is adapted to rock in an approximately horizontal plane, and theforward end of said rod extends into contact with the free end of theadjacent spring at the discharge end of the chute. A carrierplate a ispivoted to swing in a vertical plane at one side of said chute abovesaid rod, and said plate is provided with ears rd, in which a rod d ismounted to partially turn about its longitudinal axis, and the upper endof said rod carries a clapper u, adapted to strike a gong a, secured tothe face-plate S. In the lower end of said partially-rotatable rod ICC ais secured a pin a so that said pin is mounted to rock. One end of saidpin extends across underneath the rear end of the rocking rod u, and theother end of said pin normally extends in the way of an alarmtrip apivoted on the forward section 25 of the ejector-arm T, as shown in Fig.20. If there is a stopper in the lower end of the chute d when theejector-arm moves downwardly, said stopper will push apart the springs(W, and one of the latter, as is evi' dent, will rock the rod 11,, whichwill in turn throw the pin u' out of the way of the alarmtrip a so-thatthe alarm will not be sounded; but if the supply of stoppers has becomeexhausted and no stopper is ejected by the downward movement of theejector-arm the alarm-trip u will engage the pin a and cause the alarmto sound.

In the description of the general operation of our machine we willconsider that a stopper has already been deposited by the feed devices Dinto the stopper-holder Z and that the bottle-holder B is at thelowermost limit of its movement. The operator places a bottle H on thebottle-holding disk and depresses the treadle with his foot, thereuponcausing the main shaft e to turn with the pulley E, which will turn thewheel K, so as to pull the reciprocating rod j upwardly, and the latterwill raise the bottle-holder B. WVhen the bottle-holder rises with abottle on it, its upward movement will raise the casing L andstopper-holder l and the latter will automatically drop the stopper intothe bottle-mouth. The continued upward movement of the bottle will forcethe stopper to its seat and cause a wedging and compressing of thecork-sealing collar when the latter contacts with the expanding-fingers.The expandingfingers are then spread by the wedge-pin c, and thereby theductile metallic sides of the stopperare forced into the annular groovein the bottle-mouth. The further rotation of the shaft 6 will have theeffect of allowing the expanding-fingers to contract and free themselvesfrom the expanded stopper, and immediately the bottle-holder willcommence to descend. The casing L and stopper-holder Z will alsocommence to descend, and thecarn 'n on the shaft N-is so timed that itwill actuate the stopper-pusher and stopper-ejector to eject astopperfrom the delivery-chute d just as soon as the side openings of the saidcasing and stopper-holder have come into registry with thedischarge-mouth of the deliverychute.

While the accompanying drawings show one form of our invention, it isevident that changes in the details of construction and arrangement ofthe parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention,which is defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. In abottle-stoppering machine, the combination of a bottle-holder;stopper-expanding fingers thereabove; a vertically-reciprocablestopper-holder surrounding said expanding-fingers; a casing surroundingand secured to said stopper-holder and springpressed in a downwarddirection; and means whereby the mouth of a bottle on said bottleholderwill press against said casing and raise the latter and saidstopper-holder against the action of said casing-springs, for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a bottle-stoppering machine, stopperexpanding devices; avertically-reciprocable stopper-holder adapted to hold a stopper belowsaid expanding devices; and a downwardly-spring-pressed bottle-mouthguide secured to said stopper-holder,the bottle-mouth guide andstopper-holder being distinct parts, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a bottle-stoppering machine, the combination of stopper-expandingfingers; means for spreading said fingers apart; averticallyreciprocable stopper-holding tube slitted at its lower endwhereby to form spring-fingers adapted to hold a stopper below thestopperexpanding fingers; and means for automatically spreading saidstopper-holding fingers apart whereby to release the stopper therefrom.

4. In a bottle-stoppering machine, the combination of stopper-expandingfingers; means for spreading said fingers apart; averticallyreciprocable stopper-holder adapted to hold a stopper belowsaid expanding-fingers; a casing surrounding and secured to saidstopperholder to raise the latter and serving as a bottle-mouth guide,said casing being a part distinct from said stopper-holder; and a devicefor automatically releasing the stopper when the stopper-holder israised.

. 5. In a bottle-stoppering machine, the combination of astopper-expander provided with expanding-fingers; means for spreadingsaid fingers apart; a stopper-releasing device surrounding said expanderand provided with an annular shoulder; and a series of stopperholdingfingers slidable on said releasing device and provided with shouldersadapted to engage the shoulder of the same whereby to spread thestopper-holding fingers apart.

6. In a bottle-stoppering machine, the combination ofa tube providedwith a series of spring expanding-fingers; means for spreadingsaidfingers apart; a releasing-tube surrounding said expanding fingers andprovided at its lower end with an annular shoulder; a stopper-holdingtube slidable vertically on said releasing-tube and provided with aseries of spring fingers which engage said shoulder when saidstopper-holding tube is raised .and a cylindrical casing secured aroundsaid stopper-holding tube.

7. In a bottle-stoppering machine, a stopper holding, releasing, andexpanding device, comprising a series of expanding-fingers; a

wedge pin adapted to spread said fingers apart; a tube surrounding saidfingers; and a series of stopper-holding fingers on said tube andadapted to be spread apart by said tube whereby to release the stopper,the stopperholding fingers at their lower end being provided with aninwardly-projecting flange on which the rim of the stopper is adapted torest until the stopper is released.

8. In a bottle-stoppering machine, the combination with a standard, of avertically-reciprocable bottle holder mounted thereon; stopper expandingdevices also mounted thereon above said bottle-holder; a rotatable shaftjournaled on said standard and provided with a wheel, K; and areciprocating and vertically-yielding rod secured to said wheel and alsoto said bottle-holder whereby to move the latter up and down.

9. In a bottle-stopperin g machine, the combination with a standard, ofstopper-expanding devices mounted on said standard and provided withexpanding-fingers and-a wedgepin adapted to spread said fingers apart; arocking lever fulcrumed on said standard and provided with an arm whichhas an aperture which receives said wedge-pin and a shoulder at eachside of said aperture; an upwardly-yielding collar inserted on saidWedgepin and provided with recesses at its lower end which loosely fitover said shoulders; and means for rocking said lever.

10. In a bottle stoppering machine, the combination with a standard, ofstopper-expanding devices mounted on said standard and provided withexpanding-fingers and a wedge pin adapted to spread said fingers apart;a rocking lever fulcrumed on said standard and provided with an armthrough which the upper end of said Wedge-pin is loosely inserted; abushing sliding on the upper end of said wedge-pin above said leverarmand provided with an encircling spring; a collar on the lower end ofsaid bushing and abutting against the said springand resting on saidlever-arm; means for limiting the upward sliding movement of saidbushing on said wedge-pin and means for rocking said lever.

11. In a bottle stoppering machine, the combination with astopper-holder, of a delivery-chute whose discharge end is locatedadjacent said holder; a stopper-receptacle adapted to pass stoppers intosaid chute; a reciprocating ejector-arm engaging the stoppers one at atime on its forward movement and ejecting them from the end of the chuteinto the stopperholder and a stopper-pusher adapted to move forwardsimultaneously with said ejector arm whereby to push the stoppers downthe chute, said pusher remaining still and holding the stoppers frommoving up the chute on the backward movement of the ejector-arm, untilthe latter engages with another stopper.

12. In a bottle stoppering machine, the combination with astopper-holder, of a delivcry-chute Whose discharge end is located adjacent said holder; a stop per-receptacle adapted to pass stoppers intosaid chute; a reciprocatin g ejector-arm which on its forward movementejects the stoppers from the end of the chute into the stopper-holder;and means for engaging and holding said stoppers in the discharge end ofthe chute from moving up the chute during the backward movement of theejector'arm.

13. In a bottle stoppering machine, the combination with astopper-holder, of a delivcry-chute whose discharge end is adjacent saidholder; a stopper-receptacle adapted to pass stoppers into said chute; areciprocating ejector-arm which ejects the stoppers from the end of thechute into the stopper-holder; a shunt device for discharging collarlessstoppers from said chute at a point above the said end of the same; anda reciprocating pusherfoot arranged to engage and push the stoppers pastor out of said shunt device.

14. In a bottle stoppering machine, the combination with astopper-holder; of a delivery-chute whose discharge end is adjacent saidholder; a stopper receptacle adapted to pass stoppers into said chute; areciprocating ejector-arm which ejects the stoppers from the end of thechute into the stopper-holder; a shunt device for discharging collarlessstoppers from said chute at a point above the said end of the same; anda reciprocating stopperpusher provided with two legs adapted to engagetwo adjacent stoppers in said chute and push them pastor out of saidshunt device.

15. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stop pering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; a reciprocating ejector-arm adapted to eject thestoppers out of the discharge end of said chute; means for swinging saidarm forwardly; a trip for releasing said arm from said swinging means;and means for jerking said arm baokwardly when the latter is released.

16. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a deliverychute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle and provided with a face-plate; an ejector-arm pivotallyconnected to said face-plate; a vertically-reciprocating actuating-armarranged for engagement with said ejector-arm; a trip-stud secured tosaid face-plate and adapted to release said actuating-arm from saidejectorarm; and a spring for jerking said latter arm backwardly.

17. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; an ejector-arm for ejecting the stoppers from saidchute; an actuating-arm s for moving said ejector-arm forwardly; a rod,0, for moving said actuating-arm; and a yielding connection between saidrod and actuating-arm.

ICCI

18. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; a verticallyreciprocating ejector-arm adapted to ejectthe stoppers from said chute; an actuatingarm for moving saidejector-arm forwardly; and means whereby said arm may yield.

19. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; an ejector-arm for ejecting stoppers from said chute;an actuating-arm adapted to engage said ejectorarm and move itforwardly; an adjustable trip for throwing said actuating-arm out ofengagement with said ejector-arm and means for moving said ejector-armbackwardly.

20. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopperreceptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; a rod, 0, mounted to vertically reciprocate adjacentsaid chute, and provided with a tubular lower end; adownwardly-spring-pressed shank slidable in said tubular lower end; astopper-pusher pivotally connected to said shank; adownwardly-spring-pressed tube also slidable in the lower end of saidrod; an ejector-actuating arm pivotally connected to said tube; and astopper-ejecting arm arranged for engagement by said actuatingarm.

21. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising arotary stopper-receptacle provided at its rim with a channel, (Z andstopper-outlet openings, d; a stationary ring, 61 entirely encirclingsaid rim and also, provided with a channel, 01 and a delivery-chute, dadapted to receive the stoppers passed from the channel, d ,through theopenings, d into the channel, (i as and for the purpose set forth.

22. In a bottle-stoppering machine, the combination ofintermittently-operated stopper-expanding devices; acontinuously-rotated stopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted topass the stoppers from said stopper-receptacle to the expanding devices;and an intermittently-operated ejector-arm adapted to carry the stoppersone at a time from said chute to the expanding devices.

23. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; an ejector-arm adapted to engage a stopper and carry itout of the discharge end of the delivery-chute; and an alarm devicesounded by said arm when the latter passes out of the discharge end ofthe chute without a stopper.

24:. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; an ejector-arm adapted to engage the stopper in saidchute and carry it out of the discharge end of the delivery-chute; analarm device actuated by said arm when the latter moves forwardlywithout engaging a stopper; and means for throwing said alarm device outof the way of said arm when thelatter, on its forward movement, engagesa stopper.

25. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; an ejector-arm adapted to engage a stopper and carry itout of the discharge end of the delivery-chute; a spring at thedischarge end of the chute and extending into the way of the-stopper; an

alarm device arranged to be actuated by said ejector-arm; and means forthrowing said alarm device out of the way of said ejectorarm when saidspring is pressed upon by a stopper.

26. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprising astopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; an ejector-arm adapted to engage a stopper to eject itout of the discharge end of the delivery-chute; a gong secured to saidchute; a pivoted clapper also secured to said chute; an alarm-tripcarried by said ejector-arm and adapted to trip said clapper; and meansfor throwing said clapper out of the way of said alarmtrip.

27. A stopper-feed device for bottle-stoppering machines, comprisingastopper-receptacle; a delivery-chute adapted to receive stoppers fromsaid receptacle; an ejector-arm adapted to eject stoppers out of thedischarge end of the delivery-chute; a gong secured to said chute; apivoted and partially-rotatable rod mounted on said chute, and providedat one end with a clapper adapted to strike said gong, and also providedat its other end with a pin which rocks when said rod rotates; analarm-trip mount-ed upon an ejector-arm and adapted to strike said pinto trip said rod; a rocking rod, u, adapted to engage said rocking pinand move the latter out of the way of said alarm-trip; and means wherebya stopper in said chute will rock said rod, u, as and for the purposeset forth.

28. In a bottle stoppering machine, the combination of stopper-expandingfingers; means for spreading said fingers apart; a bottle-mouth guidesurrounding said expanding-fingers and provided with a side opening forthe passage of a stopper; a stopper-delivery chute with its dischargeend normally adjacent said side opening and provided with a recessedupper wall; and a divided lug, Z secured to the bottle-mouth guide abovesaid side opening and normally fitting in said recess.

29. In a bottle stoppering machine, the combination withstopper-expanding devices H In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH BUTKUS.

' JOHN A. BUTKUS;

Witnesses:

F. S. STITT, CHARLES L. VIETSOH.

